Red Sox Explain Adley Rutschman's Elbow Discomfort and Scheduled Day Off

The Boston Red Sox decided to go all in at this year's trade deadline, sending a significant prospect package to the Baltimore Orioles for catcher Adley Rutschman .

Now in his fifth big-league season, Rutschman is already one of the most accomplished backstops of his era. He earned his third career All-Star selection this year and when available has excelled in all aspects of the game.

Across 79 games, the 28-year-old switch-hitting catcher has posted a .236 batting average, .320 on-base percentage, .726 OPS, nine home runs and 51 RBIs while continuing to play elite defense at a premium position.

Despite his track record, Rutschman's time in Boston is off to a slow start as he gets acclimated to his new team. He has also been gradually working his way back into a rhythm after spending time on the injured list.

At the time of the trade, Rutschman was sidelined with left wrist inflammation, which marked his third IL stint of the season alone.

Given how Rutschman has struggled to stay healthy, the Red Sox have routinely given him scheduled days off since his arrival. That figured to be the case for Tuesday's game against the Miami Marlins as Connor Wong took over behind the plate.

However, manager Chad Tracy announced the real reason when speaking with reporters during pregame.

Rutschman's removal was due to feeling discomfort in his right elbow, though Tracy did add that there is no concern, per Christopher Smith of MassLive.

Adley Rutschman took an aggressive swing yesterday and felt it a little in the right elbow. So Red Sox are just playing it safe with him today. Chad Tracy said there’s “no concern.” Just a scheduled day off for Caleb Durbin. Curtis Mead’s follow-up four-week scan showed enough… — Christopher Smith (@SmittyOnMLB) August 25, 2026

Adley Rutschman took an aggressive swing yesterday and felt it a little in the right elbow. So Red Sox are just playing it safe with him today. Chad Tracy said there’s “no concern.” Just a scheduled day off for Caleb Durbin. Curtis Mead’s follow-up four-week scan showed enough…

The Red Sox are going to be cautious with Rutschman given he is not just a rental piece. He is also under contract for the 2027 season, making his long-term health an organizational priority.

Rutschman will look to return to the starting nine on Wednesday for another game against Miami.

Related: Rafael Devers Sends Message to Red Sox Fans

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.